2 February 2009

A recommendation to approve the draft blueprint for the next three years – a document called the Integrated Risk Management Plan 2009-12 – is to go before a meeting of Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority on 13 February.

It was made on Friday by the authority’s Executive Committee after members had looked at reports summarising the views of the public, staff, stakeholders and the Fire Brigades Union following a 12-week consultation period.

Specifically, the committee recommended the approval of:

• The community safety strategy and action plan. This contains details of initiatives designed to make people safer in their homes, in their communities, at work, in public places and on the roads
  
  
• The introduction of a five-watch duty system, in principle. This would involve rearranging teams of firefighters into five watches or shifts rather than the current four. Authority would be delegated to Chief Fire Officer Damian Smith to determine the precise details of how the scheme will work following further consultation with staff and unions
  
  
• The proposals for mixed crewing of the second appliance at Great Holm Fire Station in Milton Keynes, in principle. This would alter the balance between the number of part-time and full-time firefighters at the station
  
  
• Modifications to standard appliance crewing, in principle. This would reduce from five to four the number of firefighters crewing fire engines at Aylesbury, Bletchley, Broughton, Great Holm and High Wycombe Fire Stations

Mr Smith would also have delegated authority to determine the timing and precise details of the changes affecting standard appliance crewing and  the proposed changes at Great Holm.

Councillor David Rowlands, chairman of the committee and the authority, said:
“Members acknowledged the strong reservations made both at the meeting and via the consultation, particularly with regard to the issue of standard appliance crewing.

“The uncertainty around our financial position from 2010 makes the absolute removal of this paragraph impossible.

“In delegating authority to the Chief Fire Officer, we are mindful of the aspirations of officers and staff to continue to provide an effective service in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.”

The full meeting of the Fire Authority will be held at Wycombe District Council’s offices in Queen Victoria Road, High Wycombe, starting at 11am on Friday 13 February. The draft Integrated Risk Management Plan will be updated after this meeting and published on 31 March.

Click here for a PDF of the draft Integrated Risk Management Plan 2009-12.